Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto intensified into a Category 2 storm and could strengthen even more on its way to Bermuda. And following the assassination attempt, the Secret Service plans to add additional security measures for former President Donald Trump’s outdoor rallies — including bulletproof glass. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Hurricane Ernesto strengthens to Category 2 storm as it approaches Bermuda
Hurricane Ernesto has upgraded into a Category 2 storm with sustained winds now over 100 miles per hour as it remains on track to cut through Bermuda. However, it’s still has hundreds of miles to travel before then, so it could strengthen to a Category 3 before making landfall.
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A hurricane warning is now in effect for Bermuda. There’s a rush of people — including American tourists — trying to get off the island before the hurricane hits. Ernesto is projected to reach Bermuda by Saturday, Aug. 17.
The storm is expected to dump up to 10 inches of rain Puerto Rico also saw from the same storm system previously. Crews are still working to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people there.
This is likely to become the second major hurricane of the Atlantic season — much earlier than usual. Typically, the second major hurricane doesn’t happen until around mid-September.
Harris, Trump focus on economy on the campaign trail
The economy is taking center focus on the campaign trail this week for both presidential candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris will be in battleground state of North Carolina on Friday, Aug. 16, to give her first major economic policy speech since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
The plan is said to revolve around lowering prices and ending price gouging.
Harris’ speech Friday comes after an appearance with President Joe Biden in Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 15. This was their first joint appearance since Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, he and his vice president discussed their administration’s efforts lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
“Few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care like than Joe Biden,” Harris said.
On the other side, former President Donald Trump held a press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey Thursday. On display in the background were stacks of groceries with signs showing how much prices of household items and food have risen from inflation over the past few years.
“Harris has just declared that tackling inflation will be a day one priority, for her, it’s going to be day one,” the former president said. “But day one really for Kamala was three and a half years ago. Where has she been and why hasn’t she done it? Why hasn’t she done it?”
Looking ahead to this weekend, both Trump and Harris will be hitting more battleground territory, as they are both slated to make appearances in Pennsylvania for campaign events. Trump will hold a rally in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Aug. 17, and Harris will be launching a bus tour in Pittsburgh.
Secret Service to shield Trump with bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies
The Secret Service has found a way to let former President Trump go back to holding outdoor campaign events. They’ll be putting up a bulletproof glass barrier between him and the crowd.
The Secret Service already does that for sitting presidents and vice presidents, but since Trump is no longer in office it hasn’t been available to him. Law enforcement officials told news outlets not every outdoor event will require the bulletproof glass, but it’ll be used when there are issues at specific sites or a need for added security.
This is just one of the security measures previously only available to active office holders that’s being added to Trump’s protection after a failed assassination attempt. Others include increased staffing, technology and threat analysis.
Israel-Hamas War cease-fire talks stretch into second day
U.S. officials say some progress has been made in the latest round of cease-fire talks to end the Israel-Hamas war. Talks are expected to resume Friday, Aug. 16, in Qatar and likely will go through the weekend.
Meanwhile, the British and French foreign ministers are making a joint trip to Israel in hopes of stopping the war from turning into a larger regional conflict.
The renewed push to end the war comes as the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Thursday, Aug. 15, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 40,000 and fears remain high that Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon will soon attack Israel in retaliation for the killings of top leaders.
Taylor Swift returns to the stage after canceled Vienna shows
After having to cancel three concerts on the Vienna, Austria part of her Eras tour over a foiled terror plot, Taylor Swift returned to the stage in London Thursday, Aug. 15 night. The show was held at Wembley Stadium with heightened security measures in place, though Wembley already has some strict measures to begin with.
Two suspects were arrested by authorities in connection with the Vienna plot, allegedly inspired by ISIS to carry out an attack outside the concert. Officials there said a major catastrophe was averted by law enforcement’s work.
Time magazine names 15-year-old scientist its 2024 Kid of the Year
Time magazine is honoring a scientist who created a bar of soap that has the potential to transform skin cancer treatment while still finding time to be part of his school’s marching band. Fifteen-year-old scientist Heman Bekele from Fairfax, Virginia has been named Time’s 2024 Kid of the Year.
Time put Bekele on its cover to recognize him for “developing an affordable compound-based bar of soap that could in the future be a new and more accessible way to deliver medication to treat skin cancers, including melanoma.”
The teen was already named America’s Top Young Scientist by 3M and Discovery Education last year for his invention.
Bekele told Time Magazine he is passionate about skin cancer research and finds it incredible that one day his bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.
“I personally hope one day that skin cancer treating soap can turn into a more not for profit organization where we really can distribute it to people that need it the most,” Bekele said.
Tags: War, Money, London, Joe Biden, Inflation, Iran, United Kingdom, Donald Trump, Terrorism, U.S. Economy, Economy, Eras tour, Isis, Virginia, Kamala Harris, Puerto Rico, United States Secret Service, Palestine, Pennsylvania, 2024 Elections, Election, New Jersey, Egypt, North Carolina, Qatar, Hurricane season, National Hurricane Center, Children, Israel, Austria, Taylor Swift, Great Britain, France, England, flooding, Power Outage, Terrorist Attack, Cancer, hurricane, shooting, Hamas, Gaza, power grid, hezbollah, Atlantic Ocean, Science, prescription drugs
[KARAH RUCKER]
HURRICANE ERNESTO —
OVERNIGHT THE STORM HAS UPGRADED INTO A CATEGORY 2 STORM WITH SUSTAINED WINDS NOW OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR AS IT REMAINS ON TRACK TO CUT THROUGH BERMUDA.
IT’S STILL GOT HUNDREDS OF MILES TO TRAVEL BEFORE THEN — SO IT COULD EVEN STRENGTHEN TO A CATEGORY THREE BEFORE LANDFALL.
A HURRICANE WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR BERMUDA —
AND THERE’S A RUSH OF PEOPLE — INCLUDING AMERICAN TOURISTS — TRYING TO GET OFF THE ISLAND BEFORE THE HURRICANE HITS THIS WEEKEND —
PROJECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ON SATURDAY.
IT COULD DUMP UP TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN —
WHICH IS HOW MUCH PUERTO RICO SAW FROM THE SAME STORM SYSTEM EARLIER THIS WEEK.
CREWS ARE STILL WORKING TO RESTORE POWER TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
THIS IS LIKELY TO BECOME THE SEASON’S SECOND MAJOR HURRICANE —
WHICH IS COMING MUCH EARLIER THAN USUAL.
TYPICALLY THE SECOND MAJOR HURRICANE TYPICALLY DOESN’T ARRIVE IN THE AVERAGE HURRICANE SEASON UNTIL AROUND MID-SEPTEMBER
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
IT’S THE ECONOMY TAKING CENTER FOCUS THIS WEEK FOR BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE IN BATTLEGROUND STATE NORTH CAROLINA TODAY TO GIVE HER FIRST MAJOR ECONOMIC POLICY SPEECH SINCE BECOMING THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
THE PLAN IS SAID TO REVOLVE AROUND LOWERING PRICES AND ENDING PRICE GOUGING.
HARRIS’ SPEECH TODAY COMES AFTER AN APPEARANCE WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN MARYLAND ON THURSDAY —
DISCUSSING THEIR ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS LOWERING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS
“few leaders in our nation have done more on so many issues, including to expand access to affordable health care like than Joe Biden.”
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT HIS GOLF CLUB IN BEDMINSTER NEW JERSEY.
ON DISPLAY IN THE BACKDROP OF TRUMP — WERE STACKS OF GROCERIES — WITH SIGNS SHOWING HOW MUCH PRICES OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND FOOD HAVE RISEN FROM INFLATION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
“harris has just declared that tackling inflation will be a day 1 priority. for her, its going to be day 1. but day 1 really for kamala was 3 and a half years ago. where has she been and why hasn’t she done it? why hasn’t she done it?”
LOOKING AHEAD TO THIS WEEKEND —
BOTH TRUMP AND HARRIS WILL BE HITTING MORE BATTLEGROUND TERRITORY —
AS they are BOTH SLATED TO MAKE APPEARANCES IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR CAMPAIGN EVENTS.
FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL HOLD A RALLY IN WILKES-BARRE (BERRY) ON SATURDAY.
AND HARRIS WILL BE LAUNCHING A “BUS TOUR” IN PITTSBURGH.
THE SECRET SERVICE HAS FOUND A WAY TO LET FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP GO BACK TO HOLDING OUTDOOR CAMPAIGN EVENTS.
THEY’LL BE PUTTING UP A BALLISTIC GLASS BARRIER BETWEEN HIM AND THE CROWD.
THE SECRET SERVICE ALREADY DOES THAT FOR SITTING PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS — BUT SINCE TRUMP IS NO LONGER IN OFFICE IT HASN’T BEEN AVAILABLE TO HIM.
OTHER NEWS OUTLETS ARE REPORTING *NOT* EVERY OUTDOOR EVENT WILL REQUIRE THE BULLETPROOF GLASS — BUT IT’LL BE USED WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES AT SPECIFIC SITES OR A NEED FOR ADDED SECURITY.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE SECURITY MEASURES PREVIOUSLY ONLY AVAILABLE OT ACTIVE OFFICE HOLDERS THAT’S BEING ADDED TO TRUMP’S PROTECTION AFTER A FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY *SOME* PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE LATEST ROUND OF CEASE-FIRE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS — WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME TODAY AND LIKELY WILL GO THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
MEANWHILE — THE BRITISH AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE MAKING A JOINT TRIP TO ISRAEL IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE WAR FROM TURNING INTO A LARGER REGIONAL CONFLICT.
THE RENEWED PUSH TO END THE WAR COMES AS THE HAMAS-RUN GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS THE DEATH TOLL IN GAZA HAS SURPASSED 40-THOUSAND… AND FEARS REMAIN HIGH THAT IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS IN LEBANON WILL SOON ATTACK ISRAEL IN RETALIATION FOR THE KILLINGS OF TOP MILITANT LEADERS.
AFTER HAVING TO CANCEL THREE CONCERTS ON THE VIENNA, AUSTRIA PART OF HER ERAS TOUR OVER A FOILED TERROR PLOT LAST WEEKEND — TAYLOR SWIFT RETURNED TO THE STAGE IN LONDON LAST NIGHT.
THE SHOW WAS HELD AT WEMBLEY STADIUM WITH HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE — THOUGH WEMBLEY ALREADY HAS SOME STRICT MEASURES TO BEGIN WITH.
TWO SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED BY AUTHORITIES — ALLEGEDLY INSPIRED BY ISIS — TO CARRY OUT AN ATTACK OUTSIDE THE STADIUM.
OFFICIALS THERE SAY A MAJOR CATASTROPHE WAS AVERTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT’S WORK.
TIME MAGAZINE IS HONORING A SCIENTIST WHO CREATED A BAR OF SOAP THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM SKIN CANCER TREATMENT. DID WE MENTION HE DID THIS WHILE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN HIS SCHOOL’S MARCHING BAND?
HEMAN BEKELE | TIME’S 2024 KID OF THE YEAR
“MY NAME IS HEMAN BEKELE. I’M 15 YEARS OLD AND I LOVE SCIENCE, CREATING AND I RECENTLY MADE SKIN-CANCER TREATING SOAP.”
YES, THE 15-YEAR-OLD SCIENTIST FROM FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA IS TIME’S 2024 KID OF THE YEAR.
TIME PUTTING BEKELE ON ITS COVER – RECOGNIZING HIM FOR QUOTE “DEVELOPING AN AFFORDABLE COMPOUND-BASED BAR OF SOAP THAT COULD IN THE FUTURE BE A NEW AND MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY TO DELIVER MEDICATION TO TREAT SKIN CANCERS, INCLUDING MELANOMA.”
THE TEEN WAS ALREADY NAMED AMERICA’S TOP YOUNG SCIENTIST BY 3M AND DISCOVERY EDUCATION LAST YEAR FOR HIS INVENTION.
BEKELE TELLING TIME MAGAZINE HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SKIN CANCER RESEARCH AND FINDS IT INCREDIBLE THAT ONE DAY HIS BAR OF SOAP WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT ON SOMEBODY ELSE’S LIFE.
HEMAN BEKELE | TIME’S 2024 KID OF THE YEAR
“I PERSONALLY HOPE ONE DAY THAT SKIN CANCER TREATING SOAP CAN TURN INTO A MORE NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHERE WE REALLY CAN DISTRIBUTE IT TO PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST.”
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